Capitalism

An ambitious six-part series examining the history of ideas and the social forces that have shaped capitalism and the capitalist world.

Blending interviews with some of the world's great historians, economists, anthropologists, and social critics (view the complete list of participants), with on-the-ground footage shot in twenty-two countries, CAPITALISM questions the myth of the unfettered free market, explores the nature of debt and commodities, and retraces some of the great economic debates of the last 200 years.

Each fifty-two minute episode is designed to stand alone, making these ideal for classroom use or as an additional resource for students:

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Capitalism is much more complex than the vision Adam Smith laid out. Indeed, it predates Smith by centuries and took root in the practices of colonialism and the slave trade. (Episode 1 of the Capitalism series)

An exploration of the life and work of Karl Polanyi, who sought to reintegrate society and economy. Could the commodification of labor and money ultimately be as disastrous as floods, drought and earthquakes?

The ideological divide between the philosophies of John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich Hayek has dominated economics for nearly a century. Is it time for the pendulum to swing back to Keynes? Or do we need a whole new approach that goes beyond this dualism?(Episode 5 of the Capitalism series)

The roots of today's global trade agreements lie in the work of stockbroker David Ricardo and demographer Thomas Malthus. Together, they would restructure society in the image of the market. (Episode 3 of the Capitalism series)

Adam Smith was both economist and moral philosopher. But his work on morality is largely forgotten, leading to tragic distortions that have shaped our global economic system. (Episode 2 of the Capitalism series)

Have we gotten Marx wrong by focusing on the Communist Manifesto instead of on his critique of how capitalism works - a critique that is relevant and as penetrating as ever? (Episode 4 of the Capitalism series)